Matt Murdock‘s life as the costumed crime-fighter Daredevil begins to spiral as his college sweetheart, Elektra Natchios, returns to his life as a ninja assassin! Writer/artist Frank Miller completely redefines the hero’s role in the Marvel Universe in the classic ‘Elektra Saga’, making Bullseye a worthy adversary, crowning the Kingpin as Daredevil’s ultimate nemesis and introducing the ninja clan known as the Hand. Miller would leave an indellible mark on Matt Murdock, making noir tragedy a key factor in his street-level adventures.
David Mazzucchelli would join the title as artist long after Frank Miller left, but would remain on the title for what may be considered the greatest DD story of all time when he’s joined by Miller for the renowned ‘Born Again’ storyline that would truly tear Matt’s life apart but highlight why Daredevil’s known as the Man Without Fear!
During this period, Daredevil would be brought to life by a host of writers…
Marv Wolfman (DD #141-143, 158)
Jim Shooter (DD #141, 144-145, 146-150, 223, 226-233)
Gerry Conway (DD #144-145)
Gil Kane (DD #148, 151)
Roger MacKenzie (DD #151-161, 163-166, 182)
Mary Jo Duffy (DD #157)
Michael Fleisher (DD #162)
Frank Miller (DD #165-166, 168-191, 219)
David Michelinie (DD #167)
Alan Brennert (DD #192)
Larry Hama (DD #193)
Denny O’Neil (DD #194-202, 204-207, 210-218, 220-223, 225-226)
Steven Grant (DD #203)
Harlan Ellison (DD #208)
Arthur Byron Cover (DD #208-209)
David Mazzucchelli (DD #210)
Jim Owsley (DD #224)
Mark Gruenwald (DD #234)
Danny Fingeroth (DD #235)
Ann Nocenti (DD #236)
John Harkness (DD #237)
The artists on the series from this period are…
Gil Kane (DD #141, 146-148, 151, 154, 156-157)
Bob Brown (DD #141-143)
Lee Elias (DD #144)
George Tuska (DD #145)
Carmine Infantino (DD #149-150, 152-153)
Frank Robbins (DD #155)
Frank Miller (DD #158-161, 163-184, 191)
Steve Ditko (DD #162, 234-235)
Klaus Janson (DD #185-190, 192-195, 197)
Larry Hama (DD #196-197)
William Johnson (DD #197-202, 205, 207)
Luke McDonnell (DD #202, 204)
Geof Isherwood (DD #203, 224)
David Mazzucchelli (DD #206, 208-217, 220-223, 225-233)
Sal Buscema (DD #218)
John Buscema (DD #219)
Dan Jurgens (DD #224)
Barry Windsor-Smith (DD #236)
Louis Williams (DD #237)
I’d like to thank the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators, the Marvel Chronology Project, the Marvel Database and the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe for their invaluable assistance!
Head to our CHARACTER READING ORDER INDEX for more chronological guides!
Chronology: All appearances of Daredevil from this period are included in chronological order, laying out his timeline rather than just the order the issues were released.
Must Reads: Story arcs in bold in the Core List or marked with a ✔ in the Full Reading Order are must-read stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a look.
Anthology Issues: When an issue contains multiple stories, the relevant story is denoted with square brackets. For example, [2/5] refers to the second story of the five stories in that issue, so you don’t need to read the other four.
Spoilers: The issue/story overviews may include spoilers, so be warned!
Did we miss something? Let us know!
See Daredevil‘s formative years in our previous entry:
- DAREDEVIL, 1964-1976 – The Man Without Fear
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the core reading order without story descriptions, page-by-page breakdowns – just the stories:
- Daredevil #141-144
- Marvel Super Special (1977) #1: Kiss
- Avengers #159
- X-Men (1963) #98
- Marvel Treasury Edition #13: Giant Superhero Holiday Grab-Bag [7/9]
- Marvel Treasury Edition #13: Giant Superhero Holiday Grab-Bag [9/9]
- Daredevil #145
- Marvel Team-Up #56
- Iron Fist (1975) #11-12
- Daredevil #146-154
- Marvel Two-in-One #37-40
- Daredevil #155-157
- Thor #271
- Human Fly #9
- Marvel Team-Up #73
- Fantastic Four Annual #13
- Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #26-28
- Daredevil #158-161
- Captain America #234-236
- Avengers #190-191
- Captain America #250
- Marvel Two-in-One #69
- Daredevil #162
- Daredevil #163-166
- Marvel Fanfare #23
- Marvel Treasury Edition #25: Spider-Man vs the Hulk at the Winter Olympics
- Daredevil #167
- Defenders #88-91
- Daredevil #168-169
- Amazing Spider-Man #218
- Daredevil #170-172
- Marvel Team-Up #107
- Marvel Two-in-One #78
- Daredevil #173
- Amazing Spider-Man #219
- Marvel Team-Up Annual #4
- Rom #23
- Moon Knight (1980) #13
- Daredevil #174-178
- Power Man and Iron Fist #77
- Daredevil #179
- Defenders #103
- Daredevil #180
- Marvel Graphic Novel #1: The Death of Captain Marvel
- Daredevil #181-182
- What If? #35 [1/3]
- Defenders #104
- Marvel Fanfare #1 [2/2]
- Fantastic Four #242-243
- Defenders #106-107
- Marvel Comics Presents #136 [4/4]
- Daredevil #183-185
- Dazzler #21
- Contest of Champions (1982) #1
- Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars #1 [2/2]
- Contest of Champions (1982) #2-3
- Incredible Hulk #277-279
- Marvel Two-in-One #96
- Marvel Team-Up #123
- Marvel Fanfare #7 [2/2]
- Daredevil #186-191
- Daredevil #192-193
- Iron Man #169
- Daredevil #194
- Fantastic Four #255
- Daredevil #195-200
- Daredevil #201-204
- Marvel Fanfare #27 [1/2]
- Daredevil #205
- Daredevil #206
- Incredible Hulk #293
- Marvel Team-Up #140
- Daredevil #207
- Code of Honor #3
- Marvel Team-Up #141
- Daredevil #208-212
- Incredible Hulk #300
- Daredevil #213-214
- Marvel Fanfare #15 [2/2]
- Spider-Man: Black Suit & Blood #2 [2/3]
- Daredevil #215-217
- Daredevil #218
- Daredevil #219-221
- Amazing Spider-Man #267
- Fantastic Four #281
- Daredevil #222
- Daredevil #223
- Daredevil #224
- Daredevil #225-226
- Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #107-110
- Marvel Fanfare #31 [3/3]
- Daredevil: Black & White #1 [2/3]
- Daredevil #227-230
- Amazing Spider-Man #277 [1/2]
- Daredevil #231-233
- Power Man and Iron Fist #125
- Daredevil #234-235
- Daredevil #236-237
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances |
| ✔ | Daredevil #141-144 (1977) While protecting Foggy Nelson from Maxwell Glenn‘s hitman Stone, Daredevil is targeted for death by Bullseye who fires the hero from a giant crossbow; rescued by Nova, Daredevil takes on the reunited Cobra and an amped up Mister Hyde; the Owl hires Man-Bull to break him out of prison and help heal his legs. |
| Marvel Super Special #1: Kiss (1977) Daredevil cameo; Daredevil stands among the Defenders when Doctor Strange decides not to save the rock band Kiss from Doctor Doom. 1st appearance: Dizzy the Hun/Djordji Zindelo Hungaros, Kiss (The Cat/Peter Criss, The Demon/Gene Simmons, The Space Ace/Ace Frehley, The Starchild/Paul Stanley) | |
| Avengers #159 (1977) Daredevil cameo; Daredevil is only able to watch when Graviton defeats the Avengers and holds them prisoner in the Research City floating over New York. | |
| X-Men #98 (1977) Matt Murdock cameo; Matt Murdock walks past the off-duty X-Men on Fifth Avenue over Christmas. |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event/ Crossover |
| Marvel Treasury Edition #13: Giant Superhero Holiday Grab-Bag [7/9] (1976) Marvel Treasury Edition #13: Giant Superhero Holiday Grab-Bag [9/9] (1976) While walking through the snow-covered city with Heather Glenn, Matt Murdock thinks back to the time Karen Page left his life again while the Black Widow was just becoming a bigger part of it. | ||
| ✔ | Daredevil #145 (1977) The Owl returns with an exoskeleton that makes him a far more formidable threat. | |
| ✔ | Marvel Team-Up #56 (1977) Daredevil assists Spider-Man when he discovers the Blizzard and Electro trying to rob the Daily Bugle‘s payrolls. | |
| Iron Fist #11-12 (1977) Daredevil/Matt Murdock cameo; while walking with Matt Murdock, Heather Glenn mistakes Iron Fist for Daredevil; Daredevil is seen fighting criminals on the news. 1st appearance: Officer Murphy, Roger Stern | ||
| ✔ | Daredevil #146-154 (1977-1978) Daredevil finds out who hired Bullseye; Daredevil’s pursuit of Maxwell Glenn leads to a confrontations with the Purple Man and Death-Stalker; Heather Glenn decides to leave Matt Murdock; Death-Stalker sends a new minion called the Smasher after Daredevil; Mort Chisholm hires Paladin to hunt the Purple Man, nly for him to clash with Daredevil; Matt Murdock tells Heather he’s Daredevil just before she finds out her father has committed suicide; Daredevil is kidnapped by Cobra and Mister Hyde and forced by the Purple Man to battle some of his greatest foes in an underground arena. 1st appearance: Mort Chisholm, Arthur ‘Nose’ Norton, Paladin, Ben Urich | |
| Marvel Two-in-One #37-39 (1978) Matt Murdock represents the Thing when Alex Stone sues him for property damage; Daredevil, the Thing and the Vision uncover a plot by the Mad Thinker. 1st appearance: Eugene Everett, Alex Stone | ||
| Marvel Two-in-One #40 (1978) Matt Murdock cameo; Matt Murdock shares pizza with the Thing and Eugene Everett. | THE KORVAC SAGA | |
| ✔ | Daredevil #155-156 (1978-1979) Daredevil #157 (pp.1-13) (1979) Daredevil breaks into Avengers Mansion to confront the Black Widow; Death-Stalker takes advantage of Daredevil’s comatose state, but is saved by the Avengers… 1st appearance: Bird-Man/Achille DiBacco (in shadow), Becky Blake | |
| Thor #271 (1978) Daredevil cameo; Daredevil joins the fight against FAUST. | ||
| Human Fly #9 (1978) Daredevil lend the Human Fly a hand when he confronts Copperhead who’s almost drowned some school kids in a museum. Identity revealed: Copperhead is Arthur Reynolds | ||
| ✔ | Marvel Team-Up #73 (1978) Matt Murdock figures out that Peter Parker is Spider-Man using his enhanced senses with Peter comes to Matt for legal assistance; the Owl is revealed to have survived his last encounter with Daredevil when Spider-Man and Daredevil interrupt his minions’ crime spree. | |
| Fantastic Four Annual #13 (1978) Daredevil cameo; Daredevil is alerted to a series of strange kidnappings in New York City. |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances |
| ✔ | Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #26 (1979) Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #27 (pp.1-4) (1979) The return of the Masked Marauder brings Spider-Man and Daredevil together to oppose him… |
| Spider-Man and Daredevil Special Edition #1 (pp.5-8) (1984) Daredevil and Spider-Man continue their pursuit of the Masked Marauder. | |
| ✔ | Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #27 (pp.5-17) (1979) Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #28 (1979) Daredevil and Spider-Man take on the robotic Tri-Man, the Masked Marauder’s agent; Daredevil faces off against the Masked Marauder directly. |
| ✔ | Daredevil #157 (pp.14-17) (1979) Daredevil #158-161 (1979) The Ani-Men are assigned to taking out Daredevil by the Death-Stalker, but he’s defended by the Avengers; Daredevil has his final showdown with the Death-Stalker; crime boss Eric Slaughter hires Bullseye to kill the Black Widow. 1st appearance: Ani-Men (Ape-Man/Roy McVey, Bird-Man/Achille DiBacco (full), Cat-Man/Sebastian Patane), Judge Coffin, Fiver, Josie, Leach, Eric Slaughter, Smitty, Stilly, Josie’s Bar Identity revealed: Bullseye is referred to as ‘Mr Poindexter’) |
| Captain America #234-236 (1979) Daredevil is mistaken as a spy by Captain America who’s been brainwashed by Doctor Faustus; Cap breaks Faustus’ control and is joined by Daredevil in opposing Faustus’ Nazi paramilitary squad National Force. | |
| ✔ | Avengers #190-191 (1979-1980) The Grey Gargoyle‘s attack on the Avengers forces Matt Murdock to change into this Daredevil costume to oppose the villain. |
| Captain America #250 (1980) Daredevil cameo; Daredevil reacts to Captain America’s apparent endorsement of a presidential candidate. | |
| Marvel Two-in-One #69 (1980) Daredevil cameo; Daredevil rescues a girl who’s almost hit by a truck due to the fog enveloping New York City. | |
| Daredevil #162 (1980) Daredevil briefly suffers amnesia and finds himself fighting a crooked boxing promoter’s pet leopard. | |
| ✔ | Daredevil #163-166 (1980) Daredevil successfully stops the Hulk‘s latest rampage through New York, but is hospitalised for his trouble; while Daredevil recovers from his injuries, Daily Bugle reporter Ben Urich reveals to Daredevil that he’s figured out his secret identity; Urich decides to keep the information out of the papers; Daredevil battles Doctor Octopus while the Black Widow accepts her relation with Matt can never be recovered; the Gladiator‘s return to his old ways almost makes Matt Murdock miss Foggy Nelson’s wedding. 1st appearance: Betsy Beatty, Joseph ‘Wall-Eyed’ Pike, Rico, Stymie/Stewart Schmidt, Doris Urich, Digby Museum of Human History, Adamantium Tentacles |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances |
| Marvel Fanfare #23 (1985) Daredevil roughs up Turk Barrett on Iron Man‘s behalf. | |
| Marvel Treasury Edition #25: Spider-Man vs the Hulk at the Winter Olympics (1980) Matt Murdock cameo; Matt Murdock attends the Winter Olympics. | |
| ✔ | Daredevil #167 (1980) Daredevil comes into conflict with the Mauler who’s intent on killing his former-employer. 1st appearance: Edwin Cord, Nick Manolis, Mauler/Aaron Soames, MAULER armour/Mobile Armored Utility Laser Emitter Revisited |
| Defenders #88-91 (1980-1981) Kyle Richmond hires Matt Murdock as his lawyer to represent him in the case preventing him from ever becoming Nighthawk again; Daredevil battles Fem-Force; Daredevil and Nighthawk confront Mandrill. | |
| ✔ | Daredevil #168-169 (1981) Matt Murdock’s college girlfriend Elektra returns to his life as a deadly assassin; Bullseye develops a brain tumour that makes him see Daredevil everywhere. 1st appearance: Athos, Bilge, Brutus, Robert Goldman (unnamed), Grotto, Elektra Natchios, Hugo Natchios, Tom Snyde |
| Amazing Spider-Man #218 (1981) Matt Murdock cameo; Matt stands in court in defense of the Mud-Thing. | |
| ✔ | Daredevil #170-171 (1981) Daredevil #172 (pp.1-13) (1981) The Kingpin hires Bullseye as his assassin; the Kingpin employs Nelson & Murdock against the East Coast mob bosses to pave the way for his return from Japan; Daredevil clashes with the Kingpin for the first time. Identity revealed: The Kingpin’s real name is Wilson Fisk |
| Marvel Team-Up #107 (1981) Matt Murdock cameo; Matt Murdock ponders his pursuit of the Kingpin. | |
| Daredevil #172 (pp.14-22) (1981) Daredevil clashes with Bullseye when he learns of a meeting of gang bosses. | |
| Marvel Two-in-One #78 (1981) Matt Murdock cameo; Matt goes over the Thing’s paperwork in relation to his claim against Ted Silverberg. |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event/ Crossover |
| ✔ | Daredevil #173 (pp.1-10) (1981) Amazing Spider-Man #219 (pp.1-9) (1981) Daredevil #173 (pp.11-21) (1981) Amazing Spider-Man #219 (pp.10-22) (1981) Daredevil #173 (pp.21-22) (1981) Daredevil works to clear the reformed Gladiator‘s name; Matt Murdock provides Peter Parker with legal aid when he’s caught breaking into a prison. | LADY KILLER |
| ✔ | Marvel Team-Up Annual #4 (1981) The Kingpin wants to kill the Purple Man and it’s up to Daredevil, Spider-Man, Moon Knight, Power Man and Iron Fist to put a stop to the bloodshed. | |
| Rom #23 (1981) Daredevil cameo; Daredevil is among the heroes searching for Rom when he’s falsely accused of murder. | WRAITH, COLOR OR CREED | |
| ✔ | Moon Knight #13 (1981) Moon Knight and Daredevil meet for the first time, clashing at first then joining forces against the Jester. | |
| ✔ | Daredevil #174-177 (1981) Elektra returns; the Kingpin hires the Hand ninja clan to kill Daredevil who briefly loses his radar sense; Elektra battles Hand ninja Kirigi; Turk Barrett steals the Mauler battlesuit; DD and Elektra track down Matt Murdock’s old mentor, Stick; Ben Urich writes an expose in the Daily Bugle about the Kingpin bankrolling a mayoral candidate; the Kingpin considers hiring Elektra. 1st appearance: Randolph Cherryh, the Hand, (Jonin, Kirigi), Stick | |
| ✔ | Daredevil #178 (1982) Daredevil, Power Man and Iron Fist cross swords over the Kingpin’s mayoral candidate; the Kingpin hires Elektra as her personal assassin to replace Bullseye. | BLACK AND WHITE AND RED ALL OVER |
| Power Man and Iron Fist #77 (1982) Daredevil teams up with Power Man and Iron Fist to help a Russian ballerina. 1st appearance: Boris, Ninotchka | BLACK AND WHITE AND RED ALL OVER | |
| ✔ | Daredevil #179 (1982) Elektra is sent to warn Ben Urich off the Kingpin story; Daredevil clashes with Elektra to save Ben. | |
| Defenders #103 (1982) Matt Murdock continues to assist Nighthawk with his legal problems. | ||
| ✔ | Daredevil #180 (1982) Daredevil searches for the missing Vanessa Fisk in the sewers and clashes with the King of the Sewers; Daredevil upsets the election and ruins the Kingpin’s plans, provoking him to send Elektra to kill Foggy Nelson. 1st appearance: King of the Sewers, Zeke | |
| Marvel Graphic Novel #1: The Death of Captain Marvel (1982) Daredevil is among those present when Mar-Vell succumbs to cancer. | ||
| ✔ | Daredevil #181-182 (1982) Bullseye breaks out of prison and is given of job of killing Elektra; Daredevil becomes convinced Elektra is alive; the Punisher escapes from prison. 1st appearance: Fisk Industries, Mr Spindle, Sweaty Tex |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event/ Crossover |
| ✔ | What If? #35 [1/3] (1982) A disguised Uatu the Watcher comes to Matt Murdock while he mourns at Elektra’s grave and reveals what would have happened if she hadn’t been assassinated by Bullseye. 1st appearance: Earth-82100 | |
| Defenders #104 (1982) Matt Murdock cameo; CBI agents burst into Kyle Richmond‘s party and arrest him and his Defenders, leaving Matt scratching his head. 1st appearance: Ian Fate | ||
| ✔ | Marvel Fanfare #1 [2/2] (1982) Daredevil goes after thugs who have stolen money from a charity Santa. | |
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #242-243 (1982) Daredevil observes the Fantastic Four and the Avengers when they take on Galactus. | BEHOLD… GALACTUS! |
| Defenders #106-107 (1982) Daredevil fights alongside the Defenders and Captain America in Nighthawk’s final, fateful battle against August Masters. | THE WAR TO END ALL WARS | |
| Marvel Comics Presents #136 [4/4] (1993) A criminal recalls how he was apprehended by Daredevil. | ||
| ✔ | Daredevil #183-185 (1982) The Punisher clashes with Daredevil for the first time, leading to DD crossing a line he never thought he would; Matt Murdock proposes to Heather Glenn; an explosion costs Daredevil his hyper-senses. | |
| Dazzler #21 (1982) Matt Murdock cameo; Matt goes to see Dazzler‘s Carnegie Hall show. | ||
| Contest of Champions #1 (1982) Daredevil cameo; Daredevil is among the numerous costumed adventurers from across the world who are are forced to take part in the Contest of Champions. 1st appearance: Blitzkrieg/Franz Mittelstaedt, Collective Man (ChangTao-Yu, Han Tao-Yu, Ho Tao-Yu, Lin Tao-Yu, Sun Tao-Yu), Defensor/Gabriel Sepulveda, Peregrine/Alain Racine, Shamrock/Molly Fitzgerald, Talisman | ||
| Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars #1 [2/2] (2015) Daredevil cameo; it’s revealed that Deadpool was also among the costumed ‘heroes’ taking part in the Contest of Champions. |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event/ Crossover |
| Contest of Champions #2-3 (1982) Daredevil, Darkstar and Talisman are transported to the North Pole and must battle the Invisible Girl, Iron Fist and Sunfire for the Prize as part of the Contest; Daredevil’s clash with Iron Fist is interrupted when the ice below them breaks, though DD manages to claim the Prize and the win; Daredevil is among the heroes who discover the true purpose of the Contest. | ||
| Incredible Hulk #277-279 (1982-1983) Daredevil is among the heroes celebrating the Hulk’s Presidential pardon. | ||
| Marvel Two-in-One #96 (1983) Daredevil is among the heroes defending the Thing from super-villains while he recovers from his fight with the Champion of the Universe. | CHAMPION OF THE UNIVERSE | |
| Marvel Team-Up #123 (1982) Spider-Man and Daredevil join forces against Solarr who’s just escaped from Project PEGASUS and has been hired to kill Patrick ‘Peepers’ Scanlon. | ||
| Marvel Fanfare #7 [2/2] (1983) Daredevil tries to find a blind boy’s lost dog. | ||
| ✔ | Daredevil #186-191 (1982-1983) Matt coerces Heather Glenn into accepting his proposal; the Black Widow is attacked by the Hand; Turk Barrett steals the Stilt-Man costume; Daredevil seeks out Stick for help in regaining control of his senses; Stick gives his life to save Daredevil; Foggy Nelson steps in to break Matt and Heather up; the Hand try to resurrect Elektra; Daredevil purifies Elektra but doesn’t know that Stone of the Chaste completes the process of resurrecting her; Daredevil plays Russian roulette with the paraplegic Bullseye. 1st appearance: The Chaste (Claw, Shaft, Stone) New identity: Turk Barrett as Stilt-Man | |
| Daredevil #192-193 (1983) Kingpin tries to corrupt Ben Urich; Daredevil tracks down a travelling magician. | ||
| Iron Man #169 (1983) Daredevil cameo; Daredevil witness a very drunken Iron Man crashing through New York City. | ||
| Daredevil #194 (1983) The Kingpin threatens a cult who have an ongoing feud with counterfeiter Jeremiah Jenk who’s just hired Matt Murdock to represent him, bringing Daredevil into the mix. | ||
| Fantastic Four #255 (1982) Daredevil slams into an invisible barrier created by Annihilus to surround the Baxter Building. | ANNIHILATION GAMBIT |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event/ Crossover |
| ✔ | Daredevil #195-200 (1983) Heather Glenn gets drunk at a party and tells dying mayoral assist Tarkington Brown that Matt is Daredevil; Tarkington sends corrupt cops to beat up Daredevil; Bullseye is kidnapped from hospital; Wolverine helps DD look into who’s responsible; Daredevil heads to Japan where Lord Dark Wind is applying Adamantium to Bullseye’s bones; Daredevil battles Lord Dark Wind and the enhanced Bullseye. 1st appearance: Tarkington Brown, Lord Dark Wind/Kenji Oyama, Yuriko Oyama | REDEMPTION |
| Daredevil #201-204 (1983-1984) The Black Widow takes over for Daredevil while he recovers from his recent injuries and looks into an assassination attempt on Foggy Nelson; tribal leader Micah Synn comes to America to be assimilated into society and becomes an instant celebrity; Synn’s handler seeks out Nelson & Murdock to represent Synn; schoolboy Dirk McGirk passes himself off as Daredevil; the real Daredevil faces the criminal stage magician Trump; Debbie Nelson falls for Micah Synn; Lord Barrington Synn hires Crossbow to kill Micah Synn; 1st appearance: The Chief/Micah Synn, Crossbow/Jason Praed, Prof Horatio Piper, Trump/Carlton Sanders | ||
| Marvel Fanfare #27 [1/2] (1986) Daredevil pursues a band of car thieves. | ||
| ✔ | Daredevil #205 (1984) Irish hitman the Gael kills the only man who knows his secret identity, then tries to kill his daughter, Glory O’Breen. 1st appearance: Glorianna O’Breen, the Gael/Paddy O’Hanlon | |
| Daredevil #206 (1984) The Kingpin becomes involved in the Micah Synn fiasco when Synn comes to blows with Daredevil. | ||
| Incredible Hulk #293 (1984) Matt Murdock cameo; Bruce Banner hires Matt Murdock to help free a man who’s arrested due to the grudge he holds against the Hulk. | ||
| Marvel Team-Up #140 (1984) Marvel Team-Up #141 (pp.1-10) (1984) Matt Murdock is brought in to defend former gang member Juan Santiago who’s wrongfully accused of murder; the Black Widow and Spider-Man search for evidence on Murdock’s behalf, though Spidey disappears during the investigation; 1st appearance: Juan Santiago | SECRET WARS | |
| ✔ | Daredevil #207 (1984) The Black Widow is kidnapped by Hydral Matt Murdock starts dating Glory O’Breen. | |
| Marvel Team-Up #141 (pp.11-12) (1984) The Kingpin finds out Daredevil’s had a hand in disrupting his business; Matt Murdock finds out Juan Santiago is a liar… | SECRET WARS | |
| Code of Honor #3 (p.29) (1997) Daredevil cameo; Daredevil and the Black Widow pick up some of the slack when the Avengers, Fantastic Four, Hulk, Spider-Man and the X-Men go missing; DD and the Widow tackle the Cobra, Hobgoblin and the Ringer. |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event/ Crossover |
| Marvel Team-Up #141 (pp.13-22) (1984) Spider-Man returns from Battleworld and helps Daredevil and the Black Widow apprehend the pawnbroker who shot his rival and clear Juan Santiago’s name. | SECRET WARS | |
| Daredevil #208-212 (1984) Daredevil’s identity is uncovered by a legion of identicals girls in a strange case that links back to the Death-Stalker; Micah Synn singles the Kingpin out as an enemy, targeting his wife and pulling Daredevil into their conflict; Synn learns Matt Murdock’s secret; the Kingpin and Daredevil join forces against Micah Synn. 1st appearance: Elizabeth Dawes Sterling, Vikah | ||
| Incredible Hulk #300 (1984) Daredevil cameo; Daredevil saves a small boy from being trampled by people fleeing in terror from the mindless Hulk’s rampage! 1st appearance: Crossroads | ||
| Daredevil #213-214 (1984-1985) Daredevil and the Kingpin take their war to Micah Synn, but the two of them inevitably divide over Synn’s fate. | ||
| Marvel Fanfare #15 [2/2] (1984) Daredevil tracks down arsonist Crimson Ash. 1st appearance: Crimson Ash | ||
| Spider-Man: Black Suit & Blood #2 [2/3] (2024) Spider-Man assists Daredevil against Bullseye whos back on his feet following their last conflict. | ||
| ✔ | Daredevil #215-217 (1985) Daredevil investigates a corrupt rancher who’s trying to steal land from the Apache Nation, in a long-standing conflict that goes back to the time of the Two-Gun Kid; Daredevil finds out Glory’s shocking secret when he faces the Gael and Crossbow again; the Black Widow and Daredevil hunt former Russian spy, the Cossack. | |
| Daredevil #218 (1985) The Jester returns, taking his madness to the stage. | ||
| ✔ | Daredevil #219-221 (1985) Daredevil takes on arsonists in New Jersey; Heather Glenn’s fate is revealed when he investigates a Venetian businessman on a trial that takes him to Venice! | |
| Amazing Spider-Man #267 (1985) Matt Murdock cameo; Matt Murdock sees Spider-Man swing through New York City. | ||
| Fantastic Four #281 (1985) Daredevil helps the Fantastic Four discover the true identity of the Hate-Monger‘s agent, Malice! | WITH MALICE TOWARDS ALL | |
| Daredevil #222 (1985) Daredevil’s search for Glory O’Breen leads him and the Black Widow to a swamp in New Jersey. |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event/ Crossover |
| ✔ | Daredevil #223 (1985) The Beyonder turns to Nelson & Murdock for legal advice and gives Daredevil the chance to have his vision permanently restored. | SECRET WARS II |
| Daredevil #224 (1985) A new Sunturion channels the powers and abilities of the original; | ||
| ✔ | Daredevil #225-226 (1985-1986) Foggy Nelson’s recent losses cause him to leave Nelson & Murdock; the Vulture pursuit of jewels attracts Daredevil’s attention; the Gladiator is manipulated back into a life of crime. | |
| ✔ | Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #107-109 (1985-1986) Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #110 (pp.1-16) (1986) The vigilante Sin-Eater murders Captain Jean DeWolff of the New York Police Department, an ally of Spider-Man; Daredevil joins forces with Spider-Man to pursue the Sin-Eater, but find themselves at odds when the situation pushes Spidey over the edge; Daredevil reveals he knows Spider-Man’s secret identity as the final fight with Sin-Eater comes to a head! 1st appearance: Judge Bernard Finn, Ernie Popchik, Horace Rosenthal, Santas Claus Burglar, Sin-Eater/Stanley Carter, Sin Eater/Emil Greg, Reverend Jackson Tolliver, Carl Weatherby | |
| Marvel Fanfare #31 [3/3] (1987) Daredevil tackles armed robbers. | ||
| Daredevil: Black & White #1 [2/3] (2010) The Kingpin comes up with a new way to manipulate Daredevil. | ||
| ✔ | Daredevil #227-230 (1986) Matt Murdock is sold out by one of his closest friends, allowing the Kingpin to destroy Murdock’s life; Matt realises the Kingpin knows he’s Daredevil and retaliates, but falls further; Matt meets someone who disappeared from his life many years earlier. 1st appearance: Nurse Lois Franklin, Sister Maggie/Margaret Murdock, James Wesley | BORN AGAIN |
| Amazing Spider-Man #277 [1/2] (1986) Matt Murdock tells Spider-Man that the Kingpin knows he’s Daredevil; against Matt’s wishes, Spider-Man confronts the Kingpin himself. | BORN AGAIN | |
| ✔ | Daredevil #231-233 (1986) Matt Murdock begins to rebuild himself; the Kingpin hires a ‘Daredevil’ of his own to kill Foggy Nelson. 1st appearance: Nuke/Frank Simpson, Project: Homegrown | BORN AGAIN |
| Power Man and Iron Fist #125 (1986) Daredevil cameo; Daredevil attends Iron Fist’s funeral after he’s accidentally killed by Captain Hero. | ||
| Daredevil #234-235 (1986) Dollar Bill makes the insane vigilante Madcap the focus of his next documentary, until the Rose’s goons capture Madcap and has to be rescued by Daredevil; Calvin Zabo finally decides to take a serum that will end his Mister Hyde persona forever. | ||
| ✔ | Daredevil #236-237 (1986) Daredevil and the Black Widow investigate the existence of another super soldier, similar to Nuke; Klaw finally materialises on Earth for the first time since the Secret Wars. 1st appearance: Jack Hazzard |
Daredevil‘s saga will continue in the following reading orders:
- DAREDEVIL, 1987-1992 – Last Rites
- DAREDEVIL, 1993-1997 – A Touch of Typhoid
- DAREDEVIL, 1998-2003 – Marvel Knights
| Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| What If? #8 [1/2] (1978) EARTH-7848 – Spider-Man joins Daredevil during his first clash with Electro, only for the villain to figure out Daredevil is blind. [Diverging from Daredevil #2] |
| What If? #28 [2/3] (1981) EARTH-8180 – Tony Stark recruits Daredevil as an agent of SHIELD. [Diverging from Daredevil #1] |
| What If? #35 [1/3] (1982) EARTH-82100 – A disguised Uatu the Watcher comes to Matt Murdock of Earth-616 while he mourns at Elektra‘s grave and reveals what would have happened if she hadn’t been assassinated by Bullseye [Diverging from Daredevil #181] |
| What If? #38 [1/3] (1983) EARTH-83042 – Matt Murdock‘s life goes in a completely different direction from his Earth-616 counterpart, circa 1983, as he ditches his Daredevil persona completely which makes the lives of both his friends and enemies better. [Diverging from Daredevil #190] |
| Elektra Lives Again (1990) UNKNOWN EARTH – Daredevil learns Elektra is alive; Elektra faces Bullseye once again. |
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| Daredevil Omnibus vol.4 | Daredevil #120-158 Daredevil Annual #4 Ghost Rider #20 Marvel Premiere #39-40, 43 What If #8 [part] |
| Daredevil by Frank Miller & Klaus Janson Omnibus | Daredevil #158-161, 163-191 What If #28 [part] |
| Daredevil by Frank Miller Compendium | Daredevil #219, 226-233 Daredevil: The Man Without Fear #1-5 Marvel Graphic Novel #24 – Daredevil: Love and War Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man #27-28 |
| Daredevil by Nocenti & Romita Jr Omnibus vol.1 | Daredevil #234-266 Punisher #10 |
| Daredevil Epic Collection: The Concrete Jungle (vol.7) | Daredevil #133-154 Daredevil Annual #4 Ghost Rider #20 Marvel Premiere #39-40, 43 |
| Daredevil Epic Collection: To Dare The Devil (vol.8) | Bizarre Adventures #28 [part] Daredevil #155-161, 163-176 What If #28 [part] |
| Daredevil Epic Collection: Resurrection (vol.9) | Daredevil #177-193 Marvel Fanfare #1 [part] What If #35 [part] |
| Daredevil Epic Collection: Redemption (vol.10) | Daredevil #194-215 |
| Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil vol.13 | Daredevil #133-143 Daredevil Annual #4 Ghost Rider #19 [part], 20 Marvel Premiere #39-40 |
| Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil vol.14 | Daredevil #144-158 Marvel Premiere #43 |
| Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil vol.15 | Bizarre Adventures #25 [part] Daredevil #159-161, 163-172 |
| Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil vol.16 | Bizarre Adventures #28 [part] Daredevil #173-181 Marvel Fanfare #1 [part] What If #28, 35 [part] |
| Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil vol.17 | Daredevil #182-191 Elektra Saga #1-4 [part] |
| Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil vol.18 | Daredevil #192-203 Marvel Fanfare #7, 10-13 [part] |
| Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil vol.19 | Daredevil #204-214 Marvel Fanfare #15 [part] |
| Daredevil by Frank Miller & Klaus Janson vol.1 tpb | Daredevil #158-161, 163-172 Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man #27-28 |
| Daredevil by Frank Miller & Klaus Janson vol.2 tpb | Daredevil #173-184 |
| Daredevil by Frank Miller & Klaus Janson vol.3 tpb | Daredevil #185-191, 219 Marvel Graphic Novel #24 – Daredevil: Love and War What If #28 [part] |
| Daredevil Visionaries: Frank Miller vol.1 | Daredevil #159-161, 163-167 |
| Daredevil Visionaries: Frank Miller vol.2 | Daredevil #168-182 |
| Daredevil Visionaries: Frank Miller vol.3 | Bizarre Adventures #28 [part] Daredevil #183-191 What If #28, 35 [part] |
| Daredevil by Frank Miller Box Set | Bizarre Adventures #28 [part] Daredevil #158-161, 163-172-191, 219, 226-233 Daredevil: The Man Without Fear #1-5 Elektra: Assassin #1-8 Elektra Lives Again Marvel Graphic Novel #24 – Daredevil: Love and War Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man #27-28 What If #28, 35 [part] |
| Daredevil vs Bullseye | Daredevil #131-132, 146, 169, 181, 191 |
| Daredevil: Marked For Death | Daredevil #159-161, 163-164 |
| Daredevil: Gangwar | Daredevil #169-172, 180 |
| Daredevil/Punisher: Child’s Play | Daredevil #182-183 |
| Daredevil: Love’s Labors Lost | Daredevil #215-217, 219-222, 225-226 |
| Daredevil: Born Again | Daredevil #227-233 |
| Daredevil: Born Again – Gallery Edition Daredevil: Born Again – Premiere Edition | Daredevil #226-233 |
| Amazing Spider-Man: The Death of Jean DeWolff | Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man #107-110 |
| Elektra Saga | Bizarre Adventures #28 [part] Daredevil #168, 174-182, 187-190 [part] |
| Elektra by Frank Miller Omnibus | Bizarre Adventures #28 [part] Elektra: Assassin #1-8 Elektra Lives Again What If #35 [part] |
| Punisher vs Daredevil | Daredevil #183-184, 257 |
| Collected Edition Title | Includes… |
| Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection: Spider-Man – Threat or Menace? (vol.12) Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus vol.7 Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man vol.21 | Amazing Spider-Man #219 |
| Avengers Epic Collection: The Evil Reborn (vol.11) Avengers: Heart of Stone Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers vol.19 Marvel Universe by John Byrne Omnibus vol.1 | Avengers #190-191 |
| Marvel Visionaries: Steve Ditko | Daredevil #162 |
| Hulk vs the Marvel Universe | Daredevil #163 Incredible Hulk #300 |
| Marvel 70th Anniversary Omnibus Women of Marvel: Celebrating Seven Decades | Daredevil #168 |
| Power Man and Iron Fist Epic Collection: Revenge! (vol.20) | Daredevil #178 Power Man and Iron Fist #77 |
| Marvel 75th Anniversary Omnibus | Daredevil #181 |
| Punisher: Back to the War Omnibus | Daredevil #182-184 |
| Secret Wars II Battleworld Box Set Secret Wars II Omnibus | Daredevil #223 |
| Fantastic Four: Behold… Galactus Fantastic Four by John Byrne Omnibus vol.1 Fantastic Four: The Trial of Galactus Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne vol.2 Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four vol.22 | Fantastic Four #242-243 |
| Marvel Fanfare Omnibus vol.1 Marvel Fanfare: Strange Tales | Marvel Fanfare #1 [part] |
| Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Team-Up vol.6 Marvel Team-Up Omnibus vol.2 | Marvel Team-Up #56 |
| Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Team-Up vol.7 | Marvel Team-Up #73 |
| Luke Cage: Avenger | Marvel Team-Up Annual #4 |
| Moon Knight Omnibus vol.1 | Marvel Team-Up Annual #4 Moon Knight #13 |
| Marvel Masterworks: The Spectacular Spider-Man vol.2 Spectacular Spider-Man Omnibus vol.1 Spider-Man: The Original Clone Saga | Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #26-28 |
| Marvel Universe by Frank Miller Omnibus Spider-Man: The Complete Frank Miller | Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #26-28 Marvel Team-Up Annual #4 |
| Spider-Man: The Death of Jean DeWolff Spider-Man: The Road to Venom | Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man #107-110 |
| What If? Classic vol.6 What If? Classic – The Complete Collection vol.3 What If? Teh Original Marvel Series Omnibus vol.2 | What If #35, 38 [part] |
Reading Order © Omniverse Comics Guide 2026
Leave a Reply